Breech-loading ordnance.



A. T. DAWSON c G. T. BUGKHAM.

BEEOH LOADIN OBDNANOE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 39, 1910.

Patented Apr.2, 1912.

A. T. DAWSON a; G. T. BUCKHAM. BBBBH LOA-DING ORDNANCB. IPPUOATIQN FILED DBU. 2D, 1910.

1,022,124. Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES i WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

PATENT OFFICE.

t{LIMITI-IUI!) TRVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, OF WESTMINSTER, l

LONDON, ENGLANDLASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO VICKERS LIMITED, OF

BREECH-LOADING OBDNANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 29, 1910.

Patented Apr. 2, 191 2.

serial No. 599,940.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We,1 ARTHUR TRnvoR DAW- SON, knight, and 'GEORGE THOMAS BUCK- nArn both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at 32 Victoria Street,W'est minster, in the county of London, England, lhave invented certain new and useful Improvements. Relatin to Breech-Loading Ordnance, of which t e following is a speciication.

`This invention relates to breech loading ordnance of the kind in which means are provided for injecting into the gun breech a jet or jets of compressed air `or other suitable fluid during the opening of the breech,

iwith the object of obviating the backvvard rush of flame or hot gases which is liable to occur when the gun is fired' in a head Wind and also with the object of effectually clearingvthe bore of the gun of any combustible matter. which may remain therein after ring.

It is the chief purpose of the present invention to so construct and arrange the apparatus orcontrolling the supply of the compressed air or other Huid to the gun,

that, the said apparatus can be used in conjunction With breech mechanism of the kind in which the breech block in opening and closing the breech slides or moves trans-y versely to the axis of the gti/n.

According to this invention the valve for controlling the supply of coml'iressed air or other fluid is .so arranged in relation to the breech block and appropriate intervening mechanism, that the sliding movement` of the said block in openingr the breech opens the air control valve, and the movement of the block in closing the breech causes the said valve to be displaced to cut off the air supply. We may also provide an independent hand actuated device for the purpose of closing the said valve`r if desired, before the breech block has been mowd lo its closed position.

ln order that the said invention ma)` be clearly understood and readily carried into with reference to the accompanying drawin s in Whicheigure l is a side elevation of the breech end of a gun provided with our` improvements, the gun being of the kind having a falling breech block. Fig. 2 is an end View of Fig. 1, showing a portion thereof in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 1- of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a View of the valve operating gearing showing theposition of the parts When the breech and the control valve are fully open. Fig. '5 is a similar View showing the valve closed by the independent hand operated device, the breech being still open, and Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the position of the parts when the breech mechanism is returning to the closed position after the valve has been closed by hand.

In these figures, A is the gun, B is the Sliding breech block, and C is the air controlled valve. The breech block B is formed with an incline B so situated that during its downward movement th said incline will. cooperate Vwith the aforesaid intervening mechanism. In the example shown this mechanism comprises a spring controlled actuating lever C' which is pivoted at c* at, or near the breech end of the gun and has on the lower arm Cx thereof a roller o. The upper end of the said actuating lever C' is connected by means of a linhr C* with :i member C2 that` is also pivotcd :it or near the breech end of the gun. The said member (l2 is formed with :i projection or tooth ff' which coperates with projections or teelh c3 on a lever C3 for controlling the movements of the aforesaid valve. C. The said valve lever C3 is formed with a cani surface e against which the rounded end of the spindle c of the spring controlled valve beurs, and is under the control of a spring plunger l) the outer sur` far-e oll which is formed uilh a non-h (l to engage with :i heel 1"* oi' lhe \:llve lever as hereinaflel referred lo.

The device for closing the air control effect we will describe the Same more fully i valve by hand comprises a lever E pivotally mounted on a non-recoiling part of the gun mounting, which lever may be aci tuated by a rod e attached thereto for4 opeijfl ating the valve'C through the intervention of the valve lever Cs in the manner hereinafter described. A,

When the breech block descends in opening the breech, the aforesaid incline B thereon rocks the actuatin lever C about its pivot cx and through t e aforesaid link C", displaces thetoothed member C2. By thecoperation of the tooth c2 with one of the teeth 0 on the valve member C3, the latter is moved in an upward direction to effect the opening of the valve C by the engagement of the aforesaid cam surface c with the end of the valve spindle c. The aforesaid incline B `isvso arranged that the valve is opened as the cartridge case is being ejected, the valve lever C*x being retained in its o en position by the en agement of the hee c* formed thereon .wit the aforesaid notch d in the spring plunger Dv as shown in Fig. 4. To close the valve by hand, the aforesaid rod e is actuated and' the lever E attached thereto brought into' engagement with the valve lever Ca to move the heel c on the latter out of enga ementwith the notch d in the spring p unger D as shown in Fig. 5. If the air control valve C has not been closed by hand prior tothe closing of the breech, the parts are returned to their normal position assoon as the incline B on the breech block moves out of enlgagement with the roller c on said lever C',

y means of a spring c"" (Fig. 1). In the event of the valve (L having been closed by `hand 4as aforesaid, the return movement of the-valve 'actuating parts under the action of the aforesaid spring c, causes the valve lever C3 to be moved by the tooth c2 on the member C2 in the downward'direction, the aforesaid cam surface e being of such a 'character that the valve C is not actuated during this movement; this position of the parts is shown in Fig. 6. The s ring plunger D is however depressed, an re-acts to return the lever Ca to its normal position after the aforesaid projection or tooth o2 has moved out of engagement with the valve lever Cs into the position shown in Fig. 1. What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the laterally sliding breech' block, of a valve for controlling the supply of compressed fluid to the gun, and means for opening the said valve by the lateral slidin movement of the breech block.

2. i breech loading ordnance, the combination with the laterally sliding breech block, of a valve for controlling the supply of compressed fluid to the means for opening the said valve by t e lateral slid- 'ing movement lof the breech block, and means for closing thev said valve` 3. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the laterally sliding breech block, of a valve for contro g the supply of compreed fluid to the gun, Vmeans -`or opening the said valve by the lateral movement of the breech block and means for .closing the said'valve by the lateral sliding movement of the breech block in the reverse l direction.

4. In breech loading ordnance, the corn-l bination with thelaterally sliding breech block, of a valve for controlling the sup ly of compressed fluid to the gun, means or openin the" vSaid valve b the lateral ing sli ing movement o the breech bock, and means for closing the saidvalve b the lateral sliding movement of the breech block in the reverse direction. l 1- 5. In breech`1oading ordnance, the combination with the laterally sliding breech block, of a valve for controlling the supply of compressed fluid to the gun, means or opening the said valve b the lateral olpening sliding movement o the breech b ock, and means for closing the said valve by hand.

6. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the laterallysliding breech block1 of a valve for controlling the supply of compressed fluid to the gun, means for openin the said valve bythe lateral o ning sliiiing movement of the breech b ock and means .whereby the said valve remains open as long as'the breech is open.

7. In breech loading ordnance the combination with the laterally sliding breech block, of a valve for controlling the supply of compressed Huid to the gun, an inclined surface formed on the breech block, and mechanism coperating with Said inclined surface, for transmitting motion to thevalve. ,8. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the laterally sliding breech block, of a valve for controlling the supply of compressed fluid to the gun, an inclined surface formed on the breech block, mechanism coperating with said inclined surface for opening the valve, land hand operated mechanism for closing the valve at will.

9. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the slidin breech block, of a valve for controlling t e supply Ofcompressed fluid to the n, an inc ned surface formed on the breec block, a ivoted lever coperating with the inclin surface, a

toothed member connected with said lever and a toothed valve lever gearing with said member.

l0. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the slidin breech block, of a valve for controlling the supply of compressed fluid to the gun, an inclined Surface formedy on the breech block, a, spring con- In testimony whereof we aix our signa.-

trolled two armed pivoted lever coperating tures in presence of two witnesses.

with the` inclined surface, a toothed member ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSGN.

connected with one arm of said lever, a GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM. 5 toothed valve lever gearing with said mem- 'Vitnesses: l 4

ber, and means for transmitting the move- ERNEST E. LARKINS,

ment of the said valve lever to the valve. HENRY KING. 

